Long lost chili recipe leads to cook-off victory

Though Maine may be known for its cold temperatures, residents of the state were keeping food hot at the Southern Maine Regional Chili Cook-Off last week. The first place prize went to a Paul Williams, who entered a long-forgotten chili recipe he found tucked inside a hat, according to the Portland Press Herald. The hat belonged to Williams' grandfather, who was a lieutenant in the Portland Fire Department. Though the original recipe included venison, Williams opted for a more crowd-pleasing beef rendition. Williams also won the prize for best booth, in addition to the $250 grand prize. Williams entered the same chili into the Maine State Chili Championship where he took home second place in the People's Choice category. The event raised money for the state's Meals on Wheels program and the Good Shepherd Food Bank. "We are really fortunate because we have events like this," Larry Gross, a representative for the charity, told the news outlet. Though Williams told the news source that some judges felt his chili was too sweet, it's likely that it was served up nice and hot. Keeping food hot is easy for those who use wire chafing stands.